Ampul



A. E. SMITH June 25, 1929.

AMVPUL Filed Jan. 18, 1928 ARTHUR E. SMITH Patented June 25, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. SMITH, OF LOS AN 'GELIES, CALIFORNIA.

mun.

A plication filed January 18, 1928. SeriaI No. 247,545.

and the vehicle are contained in independent containers or ampules andwherein the arnpules are placed in communication and the solution madewithout contact with the at mosphere,

Another object of this invention is to provide improved drug and vehiclecontainers or ampules wherein the drug and vehicle are each hermeticallysealed and wherein means is provided for transferring the yehicle fromits container to the drug container.

A-further object of the invention is to pro vide a drug containing ampulhaving means therein for expelling the contents of the ampul.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an improved ampul.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of my improved drug containingampul.

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of my improved vehiclecontaining ampul.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the method of and means for transferring thecontents of one ampul to the other.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central longitudinal fragmentary section throughthe connecting device, and i Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through asyringe showing my improved drug containing ampul operatively positionedtherein.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have indicated myimproved dru containin am ul 'enerall at 10 and my improved vehiclecontaining ampul generally at 12.

In the following description, although I refer to the containers asampules, I wish it to be understood that my invention ap-.

plies to containers and receptacles in general and is not limited to theparticular construc tion or for the particular purpose which I willhereinafter describe.

The drug containing ampul 10 as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a hollowtubular body 13 preferably of glass having at one end a tapered neck 14which terminates in areduced closed tip 15. Surrounding the tapered neck14 I may provide'a resilientcollar 16 which ispreferably made of a goodgrade of rubber.

The end of the body 13 opposite the reduced end 15 is constricted as at17 and pro vided with a'reduced portion 18 which is constricted as at 19and terminates in a reduced closed tip 20. A movable stopper 21preferably of rubber is provided in the body portion 13 adjacent to theconstriction 17 and a stopper 22 likewise preferably of rubher, isprovided in the reduced portion 18 adjacentthe constriction 17 At theconstriction 17 a disk 23is provided which is preferably made of metalsuch as platinum foil and which is fused to the inner side walls of theampul at the time of manufacture.

The stopper 21 as stated, is preferably made of a good grade of rubberand includes a metallic disk 24: having a hub 25 thereon which extendsabove the upper end of the stopper. The disk is moulded in the stopperor is inserted therein after the stopper is made. An aperture 26 isprovided in the disk and hub and communicates with a recess 27 in thestopper which terminates short of the end of the stopper opposite-thehub 25.

The stopper 22 is also preferably made of a good grade of rubber. andincludes a conical recess 28 in its-upper surface and asemisphericalrecess 29 in its under surface.

The body 13 of the ampul 10 is adapted to contain a drug 30, and theinterior of the body 13 may be exhausted on both sides of the stopper 21to form a partial vacuum before the reduced end 15 of the tapered neck14 is closed.

To render the tip- 15 readily removable from the tapered neck 14 Ipreferably weaken it as by scoring or etching it as at 31. For renderingthe reduced portion 18 readily removable from the body 13 I preferablyweaken it at the constriction 17 as by etching which isconstricted as at39 and terminates in a closed tip 40.

Within the bulbous, portion 38 and adajacent the constriction I providea stopper 41 which is preferably made of a good grade of rubber andincludes a central conical re c'ess 42 in one end and a semi-sphericalreeess 43 in the opposite end. To'render the tip readily removable fromthe bulbous portion 38 I preferably weaken it as by etching it at theconstriction 39 as-indicated at'44. The body 35 of the ampul 12 isadapted to contain a vehicle 45 such as sterile distilled water.

To prepare the ampules 10 and 12 for mixing the contents thereof asshown in Fig. 3, the reduced tip 20 of the ampul 10 is broken from thereduced portion 18 at the etching 33 and the tip 40 of the ampul 12 isbroken from the bulbous portion 38 at the etching 44. a For conductingthe vehicle 45 from: the ampul 12 into-the ampul 10 I have indicatedgenerally at 47 an improved double ended hollowstylus, but it will beunderstood that any other suitable means may be used. This stylus ispreferably made of metal and as shown in detail in Fig. .4 comprises ahollow stem 38 sharpened at each end as at 49 and 50 and providedintermediate its ends with spaced stops 51 and 52.

To transfer the vehicle 45 from the ampul 12 to the ampul 10 the end 49of the stylus is inserted into the bulbous portion 38 of the ampul 12until the stop 51 comes to rest in the conical recess 42 of the stopper41. WVhen the stop 51 of the stylus is positioned in the stopper recess42 the end 49 protrudes into the interior of the body 35 of theampul 12as shown in Fig; 3. The end 50 of the stylus is then inserted into thereduced portion 18 of the ampul 10 until the stop 52 comes to rest inthe conical recess 28 of the stopper 22 in the reduced portion 18.

When the stop 52 is positioned in the con ical recess 28 of the stopper22 the end 50 of the stylus has passed through the stopper 22, fracturedthe metallic partition 29, entered the aperture 26 of the hub 25, passedthrough the solid portion of the stopper 21 and extends into the body 31of the ampul 10- as shown in Fig.3.

As'soon as the end 50 of the stylus passes completely through thestopper 21 the vehicle 45 in the ampul 12 flows through the hollow stem48 due to the vacuum in the body 13 of the ampul 10, thereupon forming adrug solution in the ampul 10 as shown in Fig. 3.

The drug containing ampul 10 is particularly designed for insertion in asyringe for ejecting the contents of the ampul. In Fig. 5 I have shownthe ampul 10 as operatively positioned in an improved syringe indicatedgenerally at 55. This syringe asshownjncludes a body portion or barrel56 which isadapted to be closed at one end by atip 57.

The tip 57 includes a conical aperture 58 and a reduced tip 59 to whicha hypodermic The end of the syringe opposite the tip 57 adapted to beclosed by a cap 62 which may be detachablysecured to the syrin e barrel56 in any desired manner such as by screw threads 63. The lower portionof the-cap 62 is adapted to fit within the barrel 56 and includes aconical recess 64. A plunger rod is adapted to be carried by the cap 62and includes an enlarged head 66 which is provided with a recess 67.

To insert the ampul 10 in the syringe the cap 62 isremoved, the reducedtip 15 oi the ampul broken from the tapered neck 14 at the etching 31and the ampul inserted in the barrel 56 so that the resilient collar 16is positioned in the conical recess 58 of the tip 57. The cap 62 is thenreplaced and in so doing the end of the ampul opposite the collar 16enters the cap recess 64 and automatically becomes correctly centered inthe syringe barrel. Upon further movement of the ca 62 the resilientcollar 16 on-the ampul wi 1 be forced into tight engagement with theside walls of the conical recess 58 of the tip 57 and thereby form afluid tight seal between the ampul and the syringe.

To expel the contents of the ampul the plunger rod 65 is moved towardsthe tip 57 until the plunger rod head 66 abuts the stopper 21. \Vhen theplunger rod head abuts the stopper the projecting portion of the hub 25fits within the plunger rod head recess 67 and prevents lateral movementof the plung- .er rod and subsequent tilting of the stopper 21 whenmaking an injection. Upon further movement of the plunger rod towardsthe tip 57 the stopper 21 will thereby be moved and caused to act as apiston to expel the contents of the ampul through the open end at theetching 31. The more pressure required to expel the contents of theampul the ti hter the collar 16 will engage the side wal s of the recess58.

From the fore oing description it will be apparent that I ave providedan improved method and apparatus for storing drugs and their vehicles inseparate containers or ampules and for mixlng the drugs and theirvehicles wherein the in ediments remain sterile and wherein simp ieityof operation and efiieiency are obtained.

' Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an ampul of the class described, a body portion closed at one end,the opposite end of said body being constricted to provide a bulbousportion, said bulbous portion terminating in a. closed tip, a stopper insaid bulbous portion adjacent said constriction and a movable sto per insaid body portion.

2. An ampul 0% the class described comprising a body portion terminatingin a closed tip, a frangible partition in said ampul to provide twocompartments, a, stopper in one of said compartments in said body, saidstopper being adapted to be moved 1n said body and a second stopper inthe other compartment adjacent said partition.

3. An ampul of the class described comprising'a body portion, said bodyhaving a tapered neck at one end terminating in a closed tip, a reducedportion at the end of said'body opposite said neck, said ampul beingconstricted between said body and said reduced portion, a frangiblemetallic partition in said ampul at said constricted portion, a stopperin-said body adjace t said constricted portion, said stopper beingadapted to be moved in said body, a second stopper in said reducedportionadjacent said metallic partition, portion opposite said metallicpartition being constricted and terminating in a clospd ti 4. An ampulof the class described comprising a body portion, a stopper adapted tomove in said body, said body being closed at each end portion beyond thestopper and said body being partially exhausted in each end portion.

5. An ampul comprising a body terminating in a closed end, a reducedportion at the end of said body opposite said first mentioned end, saidampul bein constricted between said ends, a frangib e metallic partitionin said ampul at said constricted portion, a stopper in Said bodyadjacent said constricted portion, said stopper being the end of saidreduced adapted to be moved in said body, a second stopper in .saidreduced portion adjacent said metallic partition, the end of saidreduced portion opposite said metallic partitionbeing constricted andterminating in a closed tip.

6. For use in an ampul, a cork comprising a resilient body having acylindrical outer surface, said body having a central open ended cavitytherein, said cavity extending from one end of said body to a pointspaced from the other end thereof, a washer embedded in said body, saidwasher having an aperture aligned with said cavity, said washer beingpositioned intermediate the length of said cavity and having a tubularmember thereon extending towards the open end of said cavity.

7. For use in an ampul, a cork comprising a resilient body having acavity therein, said cavity extending from one end of said body to apoint spaced from the other end thereof, a washer of larger area thansaid cavity and located in said body, said washer having a cylindricalmember thereon directed towards the 0 en end of said cavity.

8. n a stylus, an elongated body having an open end and having a hollowportion thereon communicating with said end, means on said stylus tolimit its movement in one direction through an aperture and other meanson said stylus to limit its movement in a reverse dlrectlon throughanother aperture.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature:

ARTHUR SMITH.

